Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 10
Chapter 374 — ध्यान (Dhyāna) — Colophon & Transition to Dhāraṇā
भस्प्रीभूतं शरीरं स्वन्ततश् चैवीपसंहरेत् शीतश्लेष्मादयः पापं विनश्यन्ति द्विजातयः
bhasprībhūtaṃ śarīraṃ svantataś caivīpasaṃharet śītaśleṣmādayaḥ pāpaṃ vinaśyanti dvijātayaḥ
When the body has been reduced to ashes, one should then gather it up of one’s own accord; cold, phlegm and the like—and sin as well—are destroyed, O twice-born.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Ritual-therapeutic purification framing: using the imagery of bhasma (ashes) and śīta-śleṣma-śamana (cooling/phlegm-clearing) to indicate removal of bodily impurities and moral impurity (pāpa) through prescribed purificatory acts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Bhasma-bhāva and śīta-śleṣma-pāpa-kṣaya (purificatory destruction of cold/phlegm and sin)","lookup_keywords":["bhasma","śīta-śleṣma","pāpa-kṣaya","śodhana","dvijāti"],"quick_summary":"The verse uses the bhasma (ash) motif to signal complete reduction of impurity; it asserts that cold/phlegm-type afflictions and sin are destroyed through the intended purificatory regimen."}
Dosha: Kapha
Concept: Śuddhi (purification) links bodily impurity and moral impurity; disciplined practice leads to kṣaya (dissolution) of both.
Application: Adopt purificatory discipline (śauca, regulated regimen, expiatory intent) so that somatic imbalance and ethical burden are treated as a unified field of cleansing.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Chikitsa / Therapeutics and Doṣa-pacification)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual-therapeutic purification scene: a practitioner contemplates the body reduced to ash and gathers the ash, symbolizing total impurity-burn; coolness and phlegm-like heaviness dissipate as a dark ‘sin’ haze clears.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and greens, a dvija practitioner near a sacred fire-pit, ash gathered in hands, cool white-blue aura dispersing grey kapha-clouds, minimal background, traditional ornament lines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on the fire altar and sacred vessels, central figure holding bhasma, radiant halo of purification, stylized clouds of śleṣma dissolving, rich maroons and emeralds","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework showing sequential action: body-as-ash symbolism, then ash collection, annotated feel, cool wash of pale blues indicating śīta-śamana, calm facial expression","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard with ritual implements, figure collecting ash in a small bowl, translucent grey vapors (pāpa/kapha) fading into a cool blue atmosphere, delicate floral border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भस्प्रीभूतम् ≈ भस्म + प्री + भूतम् (sandhi/orthography); चैवीव = च + एव + इव; अपसंहरेत् = अप + संहरेत्; शीतश्लेष्मादयः = शीतश्लेष्म + आदयः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 371-376 (Ayurveda/śodhana, doṣa-śamana context); Agni Purana 372-373 (general cikitsā and doṣa discussions)
FAQs
It links a post-cremation/ash-related act of gathering (upasaṃhāra) with cleansing effects—framed as reducing cold/kapha-like afflictions and removing impurity, indicating a purification-oriented regimen in the Ayurveda-themed passage.
It blends practical bodily/health language (śīta, śleṣma) with religious-ethical outcomes (pāpa-kṣaya), showing how the Agni Purana integrates medical notions of doṣa disturbance with dharmic ideas of purification.
The verse states that performing the prescribed act is pāpa-destroying (sin-removing), presenting purification not only as physical (relief from cold/kapha) but also as karmic cleansing for the dvija.